Man’s Death: Sister Claims Hospital ‘Dismissed’ Him Due to Drug Use

The sister of a man who passed away following a hospital’s failure to conduct “important” medical examinations has stated that he faced “discrimination” due to his past use of Spice. An inquest jury determined that neglect played a role in the death of Wayne Lammond of Chester, subsequent to his admission to the Countess of Chester Hospital in November 2021. Ann Mawdsley, his sister, asserted that hospital personnel and police “didn’t want to help him because he had an addiction” and consequently “dismissed” her brother. The hospital trust declared its acceptance of the inquest’s findings and conveyed its “deepest sympathies” to the family of Mr Lammond. Cheshire Police stated that it “categorically disputes” any claims suggesting that the actions of its officers contributed to Mr Lammond’s demise. Mr Lammond was transported to the hospital via an ambulance, summoned by his sister during the early hours of 20 November 2021. She reported that he was undergoing one of “a number of psychotic episodes,” which she attributed to his cessation of anti-psychotic medication three months prior. The inquest jury documented that his admission was prompted by “a rapid decline in his mental health and reported use of Spice” the day before. Following his transfer to a hospital bed, the jury’s conclusion indicates that “a number of important medical checks and actions did not take place,” which they stated “resulted in a rapid deterioration of Wayne’s condition and subsequent cardiac arrest.” Ms Mawdsley recounted that upon her brother’s arrival at the hospital, “they heard the word Spice and that was it.” “Instead of competent medical care, Wayne was restrained four times, which would have been extremely distressing for him in his mental state, and then failed to receive even the basic care and attention he needed,” she stated. She added, “They should have treated him with respect and fairness, not discriminated against him because he’s an addict.” Sue Pemberton, the deputy chief executive officer at the hospital trust, commented: “The trust accepts the conclusion reached by the jury and has reflected thoroughly on the care provided.” She further stated, “On this occasion our security team’s response was professional and respectful for everyone involved.” The inquest documented that Mr Lammond suffered from schizophrenia and had experienced “a prolonged Spice dependency” since 2009. Ms Mawdsley revealed that she had tried to have her brother sectioned in a mental health facility in the months preceding his death, but “every appointment he went to he was dismissed, because of Spice.” Additionally, Mr Lammond’s family accused police officers present at his bedside of not summoning assistance from healthcare personnel when he ceased breathing. The police force “categorically disputes” these allegations. A spokesperson for Cheshire Police commented: “While we understand that this is a difficult time for the family, we would categorically dispute their claim that the actions of Cheshire Police were a factor contributing to his death,” adding that this assertion was “not borne out” by evidence presented during the inquest. Natasha Walker, another of Mr Lammond’s sisters, stated: “The fact we have not received an apology from anyone involved continues to add to the trauma, as well as the difficulties we had in finding out the truth over the last three years.” Nicola Miller, representing the family’s solicitors Broudie Jackson Canter, conveyed that his family was “understandably devastated to have heard that his life could have been saved if it wasn’t for the failures of those responsible for his care.” She further mentioned that they were “intent on getting some semblance of justice for Wayne’s death” by pursuing action through the civil courts. For individuals affected by addiction, information and support are available through BBC Action Line. The best of BBC Radio Merseyside can be accessed on Sounds, and BBC Merseyside can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can also be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk and via Whatsapp at 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details regarding our approach to external linking are available for review.